Glass run guide



Dec. 22, 1964 M. A. KRASKA ETAL GLASS RUN GUIDE Filed Jan. 2, 1963 6A) R GAUZ/E/V M/L TO A. KRIS/04 INVENTORS BYQ/QJ M A 7 TOR/VEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,l52,2i Patented Dec. 22, 19%

3,162,281 GLASE; RUN GUIDE Milton A. Kraslta, Dearhorn, and Gay P. Gaulien, Southfield, Mich, assignors to Ford Motor Company, ,2" born, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 2, i963, Ser. No. 248328 7 Qlaims. (Cl. mi -72) This invention relates to means for supporting and guid ing slidable windows.

In particular, this invention relates to a novel window assembly comprising a glass run guide fixed to a window glass and extending into a glass run channel and into slidable contact with a liner therein comprising a pliable organic polymeric material having a low coefficient of friction in contact with said guide.

More particularly, this invention relates to improved means for guiding and supporting slidable windows in motor vehicles such as convertibles and hardtops in which only a single channel and guide assembly is available to guide and support the slidable window in the upper positions assumed in its vertical movements, the improved means being constructed and arranged to provide suficient fore and aft stability to the window to permit the use of a single arm window regulator.

As a rule, sliding glasses mounted on the bodies of motor vehicles are guided and supported throughout their height, during their sliding movement, both upwards and downwards, by fore and aft slideways consisting broadly of channel sections lined internally with a soft surface material and fitted generally in fillusters of a door frame or other body section. Removal of either fore or aft support above the bottom edge of the window opening in the door or body structure necessarily increases the problems attendant to maintaining fore and aft stability of the glass. Furthermore, the need for means to provide such stability independent of the window regulator assembly is accentuated when a single arm window regulator is used.

One object of this invention is, therefore, to provide in a slidable window assembly a glass run guide fixed to a Window glass and including guide means which extend into slidable contact with a pliable surface providing low frietional resistance within a glass run channel having retention means which coact with the guide means to prevent withdrawal of such guide means from the channel in a direction longitudinally of such window and to provide such glass with sufiicient fore and aft stability to permit the use of a single arm window regulator.

Other features and objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 isa fragmentary perspective view of an automobile door assembly including the door-vent window division bar or post thereof within which is incorporated one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a glass run liner similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 but isolated to better illustrate the T shaped slot therein.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 an automobile door 11 having an outer door panel 12, a division post comprising a channel member 13 bebetween outer door panel 12 and an inner door panel llt removed for purposes of illustrating the window assemb Division post 13 extends downward to just below 1 lowermost position of glass 15 and has a bracket 16 ada ed to secure post 13 to the aforementioned inner par of door 11. Slidable window glass 15 has a fixedly tached metal frame 17 comprising a top frame member and side frame members 19 and 21 positioned along 1 corresponding edges of the glass and is adapted to lowered into the window well guided by the glass run J sembly supported by division post 13 and hereinafter scribed in detail in relation to FIGURES 2 and 3. T glass 15 is supported from below by a channel bar which is provided medially of its length with a dependi horizontal retainer 23. The retainer 23 is provided w. a slot 24 for slidably receiving a stud 25 secured to t outer end of an actuating arm 26 of a conventional sin; arm window regulator mechanism not further shown. the lower right hand corner of FIGURE 1 there is ShOl a downstop bracket 27 positioned to receive glass 15 in lowermost position and adapted to be secured to the in: panel of door 13..

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, division Pl channel member 13 is constructed and arranged to ceive and retain a glass run channel member genera designated by reference numeral 31 wedgably or otherw fixedly secured in the essentially U shaped channel post 13. Glass run channel member 31 extends insi post 13 from the uppermost position of glass 15 in its t or closed position to just below the lowermost position glass 15 in its down or open position. The channel me: her 31 is ordinarily, as here, formed of a metal sheet suitable structural strength and rigidity. However, it within the scope of this invention to have channel me: ber 31 formed of a nonmetal providing comparable stri tural characteristics and durability, or, to design the chs nel forming portions of post 13 to perform the functic of channel member 31 and thereby eliminate need for t latter. Glass run channel member 31 is of modified shape and has a bottom wall 39 and substantially paral idewalls 4t and 41. Side Walls 40 and 41 each have inwardly directed flange or lip 42 and 43 respective Positioned within channel member 31 is a pliable glz run liner 32 providing in the form of a substantially shaped slot 44 a slideway for the glass run guide herei after discussed. Liner 32 is herein formed from plast using that term in its well-understood broad meaning, a referring to an organic polymeric material which may fibrous in whole or in part, and in particular from a pl: tie that is generally classified as thermoplastic. This pl:

7 tic should be one that is waterproof and weather resista;

tween ventipane window 14 and a slidable transparent panel or window glass 15. Glass 15 is here shown in an intermediate position between its upper terminal or closed position and its lower terminal or open position. Divisio-n post 13 extends downward from the uppermost position of glass 15 into a conventional window well formed It is preferably tough and stable in form, yet pliable in t sense that it is firmly yielding and resilient with a son what deliberate elastic response. Aside from providi a slideway for a guide afiixed to the window, glass lit 32 also has a cushioning or shock absorbing functi being ordinarily interposed between a rigid channel me; her and a rigid guide member. In one preferred emboi ment liner 32'. is an extruded polymeric material such graphite impregnated nylon, a polyamide of 'adipic at and hexamethylenediamine or modifications thereof a known in the art as nylon or nylon type materials, poI tetrafluorcethylene, or other extrudable material provi ing both the desired resilience and the requisite low fr tional properties. Liner 32 extends the full length of cha nel member 31 and has a substantially T shaped slot constructed and arranged to receive and retain a con spondingly shaped rigid or semi-rigid connecting means glass run guide member 34. In this embodiment glass r guide member 34 is formed of sheet metal although it m be formed of a nonmetal of suitable rigidity and low fri 56 and form a substantially vU shaped projection pro-,7

1g glass retaining means adapted to straddle the edge ass 15 and frictionally engage or be otherwise fixedly red to a seal 33 of rubber or other suitable plastic. le 34 is in fixed engagement with glass 15 along essen 1 the full height of the glass and slidably engaged glass run channel liner 32 sons to move vertically t 44.

)th the resilient liner 32 and the rigid guide member re preferably inserted within glass run channel mem- 31 through its open upper end after member 31 has .secured in divisionpost 13 and before this upper end vered with a fixed or movable cap which forms the |ositi0n stop for glass 15. 7

ms, in accordance with the instant invention glass 15 lided throughout its vertical movements by the glass assembly comprising the rigid glass run guide slidably ing within the firmly yieldable liner within the suping channel member. The coacting retention means 1e assembly represented by lips 42 and 43- of channel 1ber,31, the slotted liner 32, and head 35 of guide 34' ent withdrawalof head 35 f rom slot 44 and channel 1 a direction longitudinally of glass'15. V will be understood that the invention is not to be :ed to the exact construction shown and described, but various changes and modifications may be made out departing from the spirit and scope of the invenas defined in the appended claims.

'e claim: 7 v I a A window assembly comprising in combination a sparent panel reciprocally movable between a first .inal position and a second terminal position; a side ort at one side of said panel comprising an elongated i116]. member having a longitudinal opening extending l said first terminal position to said second terminal :ion, and connecting means interposed between saidland support comprising oppositely disposed retenmeans and guide means, said retention means secursaid panel to said connecting, means; said channel lber being-constructed and arranged to receive, retain slidably support said guide means; a channelliner prising a resilient organic polymeric material having W coefficient of friction in contact with said guide communicating with said longitudinal opening insaid channel member and extending from said upper terminal v position to said lower terminal position; said T shaped guide means extending into said channel member and into slidable engagement with said T shaped slot, said liner having a low coeflicient of friction in contact with said guide means, said channel member, said channel liner and said guide means having cooperative retention means which coact to prevent withdrawal of said guide means 7 panel and said side support comprising retention means and guide means, said retention means comprising an essentially U shaped projection of said connecting means which straddles and is fixedly secured to said glass along essentially the full height of oneside thereof, said channel member being-constructed and arranged to receive, retain and slidably support said guide means; a channel liner comprising an extruded, resilientyorganic polymeric material positioned within saidchannel member, said liner having an essentially T shaped longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal opening in said channel memher and extending between said terminal position; said 7 guide means comprising an essentially T shaped projeca tion of said connecting means oppositely disposed in relation to said retention means andextendinginto said channel member into slidablecontact with said-channel liner with said T shaped slot; said channel member and said T shaped projection coacting to prevent withdrawal of said guide-means from said channel liner andsaid channel member in a direction longitudinally of said glass.

4. A window assembly comprising in combination a window glass reciprocally movable between an upper terminal position and a lower terminal position; a vertically aligned side supportmeans along one side of said glass comprising an elongated channel member having a longitudinal opening extending between said positions,

ns,positioned within said. channel member and hav- I11 essentially T shaped longitudinalslot extending ben said terminal positions andcommunicating with longitudinal opening; said guide means comprising an itially T shaped projection ofv said connecting means iding into saidchannel member and into slidable conwith said channel liner within said VT. shaped slot,

channel member, said channel liner, and said guide us coacting to prevent withdrawal ofsaid guide means l said slot and said channel member in a direction itudinally of said'panel. e

A window assembly comprising in combination a low glass reciprocally movable between an upper terll position arid a lower'terminal position; a vertically red side support means along one side of said glass prising an elongated channel member having a longiial opening extending from said upper terminal posito said lower terminal position, connecting means posed between said panel and'side support comprisglass framing means secured to said glass along sub- ;ially the full height of one side thereof and rigid, itially T shaped' guide means extending laterally from glass frame means; said channel member being con- :ted and arranged to receive, retain and support said e means; a channel liner comprising a resilient organic meric material positioned within said channel mom: and having an essentially T shaped longitudinal slot and connecting means interposed between said panel and said side support comprising retention means and guide Ymeans, said retention means fixedly secured to'said glass her, said liner being impregnated with lubricating means, 7 having an essentially T-shaped longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal open-ingin said channel member, and extending from said upper terminal position to'said lower terminal position; said. guide means I comprising an essentially T-shaped projection of said connecting means extending into said channel member into slidable contact with said channel liner within said T-shaped slot, said channel member, said channel liner and said guide means having cooperative retention means constructed and arranged to .coact to prevenfw-ithdrawal of said guide means from said slot and said channel member 'in a direction longitudinally of said glass.

'5.- A- window assembly comprising in combination a window glass reciprocally movable between an upper terminalposition and a lower, terminal position; a vertically aligned side support means along one sideof said sentially T-shaped guide means, said cushioning means forming a substantially U-shaped pliable cover-ing straddling one end of said glass, said glass retention means straddling said cushioning means and firmly holding said cushioning means and said glass, said channel member being constructed and arranged to receive, retain and slidably support said guide means; a channel liner comprising a graphite impregnated nylon extrusion positioned within said channel member, said liner having an essentially T-shaped longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal opening in said channel member and extending from said upper terminal position to said lower terminal position; and said guide means extending into said channel member into slidable contact with said channel liner within said slot, said channel member and said guide means having complementary retention means which coact to prevent withdrawal of said guide means from said channel member in a direction longitudinally of said glass.

6. In a motor vehicle body having a door structure mounted thereon, the upper horizontal edge of said door structure defining the lower edge of a window opening in said body, a window glass reciprocally movable through said window opening between an upper position above said window opening and a lower position below said window opening, a side support means mounted on said door structure, positioned along one side of said window glass, and comprising an elongated rigid channel member having a longitudinal opening extending from said upper position to said lower position, connecting means secured to said window glass and including es sentially T-shaped guide means; said channel member being constructed and arranged to receive, retain and slidably support said guide means; a channel liner comprising a pliable organic polymeric material positioned within said channel member and having a low coefiicient of friction in contact with said guide means, said liner having an essentially T-shaped longitudinal slot in essentially parallel alignment with said longitudinal opening in said channel member and extending between said upper position and said lower position; said T-shaped guide means extending into said channel member and into slidable contact with said channel liner within said T-shaped slot; and a single window regulator arm fixedly secured to the lower part of said window glass for mow ing said window glass between said upper position and said lower position, said channel member and said guid means coacting to prevent withdrawal of said guide rnear from said channel member in a direction longitudinall of said glass.

7. In a motor vehicle body having a door structur mounted thereon, the upper horizontal edge of said doc structure defining the lower edge of a window oper ing in said body, a window glass reciprocally movabl through said window opening between an upper positio above said window opening and a lower position beloi said window opening, a side support means mounted 0 said door structure, positioned alongside one side c said window glass and comprising an elongated rigi channel member having a longitudinal opening extenc' ing from said upper position to said lower position, an connecting means interposed between said panel an side support means having oppositely disposed retentio. means and rigid, essentially T-shaped guide means, sai retention means fixedly securing said glass to said cor nccting means, said channel member being constructe and arranged to receive, retain and slidably support sai guide means; a channel liner positioned within said chan nel member and comprising a firmly yieldable, resilien organic polymeric material having a low coeiiicient o friction in con-tact with said guide means, said liner hav ing an essentially T-shaped longitudinal slot commu nicating with said longitudinal opening in said channe member for the full distance between said upper posi tion and said lower position; said guide means extend ing into said channel member and into slidable con tact with said channel liner within said T-shaped slot said channel member, said channel liner and said guid means coacting to prevent withdrawal of said guid means from said slot and said channel member in direction longitudinally of said glass and constitutin the sole fore and aft support on said door for said glas above said window opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,981,355 Hamm Nov. 20, 193 2,365,742 Brooks Dec. 26, 194' 2,405,394 Austin Aug. 6, 194 2,602,501 Roos July 8, 195 2,835,539 Conrad May 20, 195 

1. A WINDOW ASSEMBLY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A TRANSPARENT PANEL RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST TERMINAL POSITION AND A SECOND TERMINAL POSITION; A SIDE SUPPORT AT ONE SIDE OF SAID PANEL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL OPENING EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST TERMINAL POSITION TO SAID SECOND TERMINAL POSITION, AND CONNECTING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PANEL AND SUPPORT COMPRISING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED RETENTION MEANS AND GUIDE MEANS, SAID RETENTION MEANS SECURING SAID PANEL TO SAID CONNECTING MEANS; SAID CHANNEL MEMBER BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE, RETAIN AND SLIDABLY SUPPORT SAID GUIDE MEANS; A CHANNEL LINER COMPRISING A RESILIENT ORGANIC POLYMERIC MATERIAL HAVING A LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION IN CONTACT WITH SAID GUIDE MEANS, POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL MEMBER AND HAVING AN ESSENTIALLY T SHAPED LONGITUDINAL SLOT EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TERMINAL POSITIONS AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL OPENING; SAID GUIDE MEANS COMPRISING AN ESSENTIALLY T SHAPED PROJECTION OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID CHANNEL MEMBER AND INTO SLIDABLE CONTACT WITH SAID CHANNEL LINER WITHIN SAID T SHAPED SLOT, SAID CHANNEL MEMBER, SAID CHANNEL LINER, AND SAID GUIDE MEANS COACTING TO PREVENT WITHDRAWAL OF SAID GUIDE MEANS FROM SAID SLOT AND SAID CHANNEL MEMBER IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID PANEL. 